The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-03-18
WHITE HOUSE DINNERS.
How They are Prepared by the
"Steward ofthe Household.

The original organic act of the execu-
tire establishment, dating back almost
century, in designating the personnel of
what was known as the "official heuse
hold of the President" created the Office
of" steward of the household. 1.-THE officer
holding that place was by law Entrusted
with the custody OF the plate and care
of the furniture and effects of the United
States kept in the executive mansion for
the use OF the President. He was re-.
ouired to give bonds for the faithful per-
Torrance of his trust He also had
charge of the personal servants of the
President, made all purchases for the
Presidents table, and performed such
other duties within the circle of JONES'
tic life of the President as might be as
signed him.
When Washington inaugurated his
"official household" in NewYork, under
the act Of 1889, he made Samuel Faunce,
a local celebrity as landlord anu
caterer, the steward of his household. u
Faunce, during portion of the period
of the Revolutionary War, had BEEN
landlord OF the city tavern, favorite re-
sort for officers of the English forces
during their occupancy Of the city, and
of the American officers when the city
passed into their hands after peace. 1t
was at the city tavern, while Faunce
was still its landlord, that Washington
and the officers of his disbanded army
met, and where the general-in chief OF
the continental forces took an affecting
leave before his departure for his home
at Mount Vernon. There has been a
steward of the Presidents household
ever since, but the incumbent of the Of
fee has been changed as often as there
have been Presidents. 1t is natural
that every President should desire SO
important and close position in his
own personal household to be filled by
some one previously known to him.
When Grover Cleveland established
himself in the executive mansion IN
March, 1885, he appointed William I.
Sinclair, of Buffalo, steward OF the
household" Sinclair began life by as
sisting his father in the care of public
buildings in the Queen City OF the
Lakes. 1t was in this capacity twenty
years ago while having the care of the
Western Union building. in which were
the law Offices of the Cleveland firm
Is now President of the United States
Since that tune Sinclair tried the hotel
business at Niagara Falls, which was
not success. He spent some time on
the lakes and in hotels, connected with
the stewards department. Later he
was porter for the Unite States EXPIRES:
Company, and last in the same capacity
| for the Bank of Commerce. The fidelity
and trustworthiness of Sinclair haC
| come under Mr.. Cleveland's notice
When elected to the governorship ofNeV
York he secured his services and mad,
him steward of the executive mansion
at Albany. In March, 1884, he brough
him to Washington.
When the President proposes to give
state dinner or any other entertainment
outside of the esta blished routine of tn
household he indicates the fact, design
ating the number of guests to be invited
! and the hour for the dinner. A menI
suitable to the occasion is prepared b,
| the steward in consultation with tn
chef, the latter arranging the courses
of what to consist and the quantity o
| the raw material required. From thi
| list the steward makes his purchases
| The articles are delivered to the chef an,
| the menu is prepared. The table i
spread in the same way. The steward
with his assistants, arrarges the plate!
and glasses for the number of guests tt
be entertained. The chef indicates the
position of his decorative pieces. Tn
| florist is then called in to add the fina
touches of floral decoration. To arrang
a table for state occasion and to give j
novelty is a work of genius. The grea
feature of the official dining. next to tn
menus, of the past season was the var
liety, taste, and elegance of the tabl
equipment and decoration. The socia
lunches Given by Mrs. Cleveland to be
lady friends were also chef 'puvers il
their way.
The usual daily routine of the house
hold is breakfast at 8. luncheon at 1 30
and dinner at 7. State dinners are usu
ally announced for 7.30 p. m. The serv
ing of state dinner is in courses by te
Ito twelve experienced colored walters i
full dress. The additional number no
permanently in the mansion are take
from outside, but are regularly employee
for such occasions on account of thei
training in this special service.
There is a mistaken notion that
large share of the official entertaining i
paid for out of contingency fund pro
VlQeQ LOT The purpose IhlS is mis-
take. Only the steward of the house
hold the florist, doorkeepers, usher:
walters, laborers, and metropolitan:
the furnishing, heating, and lighting c
the mansion and maintenance of til
conservatories are paid for out of fund
appropriated. Out OF his salary of $50
600 d year the President pays for hi
chef and assistants, for all his official @
unofficial table, and the female domes
tics in the private parts of the mansion
He also pays out of his own pocket fc
his private coachman,s footmen, an
stablemen, and the care of his privat
horses. 1t is a small business for
great nation, but such are the drair
upon the annual stipend allowed tt
President out of the public treasur,
The state dinners are as much a part
the proprieties of his high public static
as are his ceremonial receptions to II
diplomatic corps, the Congress, the il
! dietary, the army, and The navy. an
the soyer ign public. And der lictio
! on his par in this respect would be he
aided far AID wide a an Off ial misd
meanor. Even as 1t l., murmurs a.
often heard amOug hose not reached
the order OF IT denc- or important
Tor chance 10 pike ueir legs under ii
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